Breath actuated nebulizer having a pressurized gas diverter with a diverter orifice

ABSTRACT

A nebulizer is provided that includes an internal medication chamber and a pressurized gas diverter. The internal medication chamber is configured for holding a medication. The pressurized gas diverter includes a diverter orifice.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/539,204, U.S. Pat. No. 9,022,023, entitled“BREATH ACTUATED NEBULIZER HAVING A PRESSURIZED GAS DIVERTER WITH ADIVERTER ORIFICE,” filed Jun. 29, 2012, the entire contents of which areincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present technology relates generally to nebulizers. Moreparticularly, the present technology relates to a breath actuatednebulizer having a pressurized gas diverter.

BACKGROUND

Nebulizers can be used for treating living beings that are capable ofspontaneous breathing or living beings that are using controlledventilation mechanisms, among other things. Nebulizers can be used tocreate a fine spray of medication with small particles of medicationsuspended in gas (also referred to herein as “medical aerosol”) that canbe inhaled by the living being. Medication in the form of liquid or asolid, among other things, can be placed inside of the nebulizer. Thenebulizer can be used to mix gas with the medication inside of thenebulizer to create the medical aerosol that is delivered to the livingbeing through a mouth piece associated with the nebulizer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, a breath actuated nebulizer is providedthat creates medical aerosol in response to a living being breathing andprevents creation of medical aerosol in response to a lack of breathing.According to one embodiment, a breath actuated nebulizer is providedthat creates a medical amount of medical aerosol for treating the livingbeing in response to a living being breathing in through the nebulizerand reduces creation of medical aerosol in response to a lack ofbreathing in through the nebulizer or exhalation through the nebulizeror inhalation that falls below a specified level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a back view of the outside of a nebulizer, according toone embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of the outside of a nebulizer, according toone embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts a bottom view of a nebulizer, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts a top view of a nebulizer, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a front view of a nebulizer, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6A depicts a cross section of the nebulizer in FIG. 5 at crosssection II-II, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6B depicts a zoomed in view of liquid outlet orifices, according toone embodiment.

FIG. 7 depicts a cross section of the nebulizer in FIG. 5 at crosssection I-I while the diverter is deactuated, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 8 depicts an exploded view of a diverter orifice, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 9 depicts a flow of pressurized gas when the diverter isdeactuated, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10 depicts a cross section of the nebulizer in FIG. 5 at crosssection I-I while the diverter is actuated, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 11 depicts a flow of pressurized gas when the diverter is actuated,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 12 depicts a cross section of the nebulizer in FIG. 5 at crosssection I-I while the diverter is actuated, according to anotherembodiment.

FIG. 13A depicts a top view of a diverter override mechanism, accordingto one embodiment.

FIG. 13B depicts a cross section of the diverter override mechanism whenit is not in override mode, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 13C depicts a cross section of the diverter override mechanism inoverride mode, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for a method of deactuating and actuating anebulizer in response to a living being's breath, according to oneembodiment

The drawings referred to in this description should not be understood asbeing drawn to scale unless specifically noted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Nebulizers can be used for creating medical aerosol for treating livingbeings. A nebulizer that continuously creates medical aerosol wastesmedication because medical aerosol escapes into the air without theliving being breathing it. Further, other living beings that are in theenvironment may be subjected to the medical aerosol that escapes intothe air. Examples of living beings are people and animals.

Therefore, according to one embodiment, a breath actuated nebulizer isprovided that creates medical aerosol in response to a living beingbreathing and prevents creation of medical aerosol in response to a lackof breathing. According to one embodiment, a breath actuated nebulizeris provided that creates a medical amount of medical aerosol fortreating the living being in response to a living being breathing inthrough the nebulizer and reduces creation of medical aerosol inresponse to a lack of breathing in through the nebulizer or exhalationthrough the nebulizer or inhalation that falls below a specified level.

The term “medical amount” is defined as an amount of medical aerosolthat would be used for treating a living being using that type ofmedical aerosol. The term “reduced” is defined as “reduced” incomparison to the amount of medical aerosol is created when the livingbeing is breathing in through the nebulizer. According to variousembodiments, the amount of medical aerosol created when the living beingis not breathing in through the nebulizer is less than the amount ofmedical aerosol created by legacy breath actuated nebulizers thatcontinuously create medical aerosol regardless of whether a living beingis breathing in through the nebulizer or not. According to oneembodiment, an insignificant amount of medical aerosol may be createdwhen there is a lack of inhalation through the nebulizer. Aninsignificant amount of medical aerosol is defined as an amount thatdoes not treat or affect a living being.

FIG. 1 depicts a back view of the outside of a nebulizer 100, accordingto one embodiment. As depicted in FIG. 1, the nebulizer 100 has ahousing 120 on the outside. The nebulizer has a top 130 a and a bottom130 b. A cover 110 can be located on the top 130 a of the nebulizer 100.A nebulizer 100 can be used for treating living beings that are capableof spontaneous breathing (inhalation and exhalation) or living beingsthat are using controlled ventilation mechanisms, among other things.

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of the outside of a nebulizer 100, accordingto one embodiment. The chamber air outlet 210 can be seen from the sideview. FIG. 3 depicts a bottom view of a nebulizer 100, according to oneembodiment. The bottom 130 b of the pressurized gas fitting 310 and theouter chamber 320 can be seen in FIG. 3.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, pressurized gas can be provided from asupply to a pressurized gas fitting 310 (FIG. 3) that is located towardthe bottom 130 b of the nebulizer 100. A living being can inhale medicalaerosol by placing their mouth on the chamber air outlet 210. Thepressurized gas travels through the nebulizer 100 and mixes with themedication, in the form of liquid or a solid, among other things, toprovide medical aerosol that is then supplied to the living beingthrough the chamber air outlet 210. According to one embodiment, medicalaerosol is a fine spray of medication with small particles of medicationsuspended in gas.

FIG. 4 depicts a cover 110 of a nebulizer 100, according to oneembodiment. The cover 110 is located at the top 130 a of the nebulizer100.

FIG. 5 depicts a front view of a nebulizer 100, according to oneembodiment. The outlet 210 is located at the front of the nebulizer 100.FIG. 5 depicts cross sections I-I and II-II. Cross section II-IIcorresponds to FIGS. 6A and 6B. Cross Section I-I corresponds to FIGS.7, 9, and 10-12.

FIG. 6A depicts a cross section of the nebulizer in FIG. 5 at crosssection II-II, according to one embodiment. Inside of the cross sectionII-II is a nozzle top 601. FIG. 6B depicts the nozzle top 601 withliquid outlet orifices 610 a-d, according to one embodiment. Medicationcan be placed in an internal medication chamber of the nebulizer. Whenthe nebulizer's diverter is actuated, as will become more evident,pressurized gas can shear across the surface of the liquid outletorifices 610 a-d and move into the internal medication chamber and mixwith medication to create medical aerosol. “Shearing across” shall bedefined, according to one embodiment, as the pressurized gas movingacross the surface.

Although various embodiments have been described as sealing the topopening of the diverter as a part of creating medical aerosol, variousembodiments are well suited for substantially sealing the top opening asa part of creating medical aerosol. For example, as long as thediverter's top opening is sufficiently sealed so that a sufficientamount of gas shears across the surface of the liquid outlet orifices610 (FIG. 6B), medical aerosol can be created, as will become moreevident.

FIG. 7 depicts a cross section I-I of the nebulizer 100 in FIG. 5 whilethe diverter 730 is deactuated, according to one embodiment. Thediverter 730 is deactuated during periods of non-inhalation, accordingto one embodiment.

The nebulizer 100 includes a diverter-actuator-deactuator 720, aninternal medication chamber 710, a lower portion 710 a of the internalmedication chamber 710, walls 710 b of the internal medication chamber710, liquid reservoir openings 760, a chamber air outlet, a pressurizedgas diverter 730, the diverter top 730 b, the diverter 730, a nozzleassembly 750, a pressurized gas fitting 310, and a nozzle area 801.

The pressurized gas diverter 730 includes a wall that encompasses aninner chamber, and a diverter orifice located toward the bottom 730 c ofthe diverter 730 and an opening 730 a located at the top 730 b.

The diverter-actuator-deactuator 720 can be located toward the top 730 bof the nebulizer 100. The diverter-actuator-deactuator 720 can beattached to the top 730 b of the nebulizer 100, for example, byattaching the diverter-actuator-deactuator 720 to the lower surface ofthe cover 110. According to one embodiment, thediverter-actuator-deactuator 720 has a bowl shape and is made of aflexible material, such as silicon. The diverter-actuator-deactuator 720can be manufactured to provide enough force to adequately seal theopening 730 a. The diverter-actuator-deactuator 720 can stretch to sealand then return to its original shape or approximately to its originalshape to unseal, as will become more evident.

Although various embodiments are described in the context of a bowlshaped diverter-actuator-deactuator 720 made of flexible material,embodiments are well suited for other types ofdiverter-actuator-deactuators. For example, a piston-likediverter-actuator-deactuator could be used. Any type ofdiverter-actuator-deactuator 720 that can be used for sufficientlysealing the opening 730 a at the top 730 b of the diverter 730 inresponse to a living being's inward breath (inhalation) and sufficientlyunsealing the opening 730 a in response to a lack of inward breath canbe used. The phrase “lack of breath” shall be used to refer to wheninhalation through nebulizer 100 has not started yet and to wheninhalation through nebulizer 100 stops after it has started.

The diverter-actuator-deactuator 720, according to one embodiment, isaligned with the opening 730 a at the top 730 b of the diverter 730 sothat the diverter-actuator-deactuator 720 can seal and unseal theopening 730 a as described herein.

The diverter 730 includes an inner chamber, a wall, an opening 730 a atthe top 730 b and a diverter orifice at the diverter bottom 730 c. Thediverter 730, according to one embodiment, has a length that ranges from30% to 50% of the length of the nebulizer 100. According to oneembodiment, the diverter 730 is approximately 40% the length of thenebulizer 100. From a side view, the diverter 730 can be locatedapproximate in the middle portion of the nebulizer 100. From a top view,the diverter 730 can be located approximately in the center of thenebulizer 100.

The nozzle assembly 750 includes an inner chamber and walls that formthe inner chamber. The nozzle assembly 750 also includes a gas outletorifice at the top of the nozzle assembly 750 and a pressurized gasfitting toward the bottom 130 b of the nebulizer 100.

The nozzle assembly 750, according to one embodiment, has a length thatranges from 30% to 50% of the length of the nebulizer 100. According toone embodiment, the nozzle assembly 750 is approximately 40% the lengthof the nebulizer 100. According to one embodiment, the diverter 730 andthe nozzle assembly 750 are approximately equal in length. According toone embodiment, the inner chambers of the respective diverter 730 andnozzle assembly 750 are approximately equal in diameter. From the topview, the nozzle assembly 750 can be located approximately at the centerof the nebulizer 100. The diverter orifice at the bottom 730 c of thediverter 730 is aligned with the liquid outlet orifice 610 (FIG. 6B) atthe top of the nozzle assembly 750.

The liquid outlet orifices 610 (FIG. 6B) are located toward the top ofthe nozzle assembly 750, according to one embodiment.

The internal medication chamber 710, according to one embodiment, islocated approximately in the middle of the nebulizer 100 when viewedfrom the side. The internal medication chamber 710, according to oneembodiment, surrounds most of the diverter 730 and at least an upperportion of the nozzle assembly 750. According to one embodiment, a smallportion of the diverter 730 extends above the internal medicationchamber 710 to enable the diverter-actuator-deactuator 720 to properlyseal the diverter 730's top opening 730 a.

The chamber air outlet 210 is located on the side of the nebulizer 100and is connected with the internal medication chamber 710 so thatmedical aerosol can travel from the internal medication chamber 710 intoand out of the chamber air outlet 210.

Medication can be placed in the lower portion 710 a of the internalmedication chamber 710. A supply of pressurized gas can be coupled towith the pressurized gas fitting 310. Medical aerosol can be supplied toa living being through the chamber air outlet 210.

As will become more evident, the diverter-actuator-deactuator 720 sealsthe top opening 730 a of the diverter 730, as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 9,in response to a living being inhaling through chamber air outlet 210and does not seal the top opening 730 a of the diverter 730 in responseto exhalation or a lack of any breathing (inhalation or exhalation)through chamber air outlet 210. When the top opening 730 a is notsealed, as depicted in FIGS. 10-12, pressurized gas is allowed to passthrough gas diverter orifice 810 b, through pressurized gas diverter730, and out of top opening 730 b thus, reducing or preventing thecreation of medical aerosol. Therefore, the lack of a seal at the topopening 730 a is also referred to as “deactuates gas diversion” or“medical aerosol creation mode”. When the top opening 730 a is sealed,gas cannot pass through gas diverter orifice 810 b and is insteaddiverted such that it shears across the surface of the liquid outletorifices 610, thus, enabling the creation of medical aerosol. Therefore,the sealing of the top opening 730 a is also referred to as “actuatesgas diversion” or “gas diversion mode.”

It should be appreciated that such gas diversion to create medicalaerosol does not rely upon movement of gas diverter orifice 810 b,pressurized gas diverter 730, or any of liquid outlet orifices 610. Itshould also be appreciated that that the gap between gas outlet orifice820 and gas diverter orifice 810 b is the same when medical aerosol isbeing created and when medical aerosol is not being created. Similarly,the gap between gas diverter orifice 810 b and each of liquid outletorifices 610 is the same when medical aerosol is being created and whenmedical aerosol is not being created. Additionally, it should be notedthat medical aerosol creation takes place without the use of any sort ofmovable shield proximate to gas diverter orifice 810 b, liquid outletorifices 610, nozzle assembly 750, or gas outlet orifice 820.

FIG. 8 depicts an exploded view of the nozzle area 801, according to oneembodiment. FIG. 8 depicts the upper portion of the nozzle assembly 750and the lower portion of the pressurized gas diverter 730. Thepressurized gas diverter 730 includes a wall 810 c that encompasses aninner chamber 810 a, a diverter orifice 810 b located toward the bottom730 c of the diverter 730 and an opening 730 a (FIG. 7) located towardthe top 730 b (FIG. 7) of the diverter 730. FIG. 8 also depicts asupport beam 850 for attaching the diverter 730 to a wall 710 b (FIG. 7)of the internal medication chamber 710 (FIG. 7).

FIG. 9 depicts a flow 900 of pressurized gas when the diverter 730 isdeactuated, according to one embodiment. The diverter 730 is deactuatedduring periods of non-inhalation due to the opening 730 a at the top 730b of the diverter 730 not being sealed, according to one embodiment. Forexample, pressurized gas can enter the nozzle assembly 750 through thepressurized gas fitting 310. The pressurized gas can travel up the innerchamber of the nozzle assembly 750 and out the gas outlet orifice 820located at the top of the nozzle assembly 750. A significant amount ofthe gas can then move into the pressurized gas diverter 730 through thediverter orifice 810 b and out the opening 730 a located at the top 730b of the diverter 730. A first portion of the gas that entered thediverter 730 can be vented out of the nebulizer 100 through variousopenings in the nebulizer 100 without exiting the chamber air outlet210. A second portion of the gas that entered the diverter 730 maytravel to the internal medication chamber 710, however, according tovarious embodiments, the second portion of gas does not come into closeenough proximity of the liquid outlet orifices 610 (FIG. 6B) to producemedical aerosol.

FIG. 10 depicts a cross section I-I of the nebulizer 100 in FIG. 5 whilethe diverter 730 is actuated, according to one embodiment. The diverter730 is actuated, according to one embodiment, during periods ofinhalation. As depicted in FIG. 10, the diverter-actuator-deactuator 720has stretched to close the diverter 730's top opening 730 a, thus,sealing the diverter 730 (also referred to herein as “diverter seal1010”).

FIG. 11 depicts a flow 1100 of pressurized gas when the diverter 730 isactuated, according to one embodiment. During the initial inhalation,the living being can overcome the flow being introduced into thenebulizer 100 through the gas outlet orifice 820. For example, if anamount of gas, such as 8 LPM of gas, is being introduced into thenebulizer 100 through the pressurized gas fitting 310, the living beingcould inhale more than that same amount of gas, which in this example is8 LPM, to start producing a negative gage pressure in the internalmedication chamber 710. Once the living being's breathing has produced anegative gauge pressure in the internal medication chamber 710, thediverter-actuator-deactuator 720 can move down and seal the diverteropening 730 a creating a “diverter seal 1010.” If the living being'sbreathing allows the negative gauge pressure to cease (e.g., throughreduced inhalation or through exhalation) this seal of diverter opening730 a will cease as well. The diverter seal 1010 prohibits gas fromexiting the diverter opening 730 a and prevents additional gas fromentering the diverter orifice 810 b from the nozzle assembly 750's gasoutlet orifice 820. Therefore, gas is forced to travel in proximity ofthe liquid outlet orifices 610 (FIG. 6B) enabling pressurized gas toenter the internal medication chamber 710 and mix with the medicationresulting in medical aerosol. The medical aerosol can then travel fromthe internal medication chamber 710 to the living being through theoutlet 210.

FIG. 12 depicts a cross section I-I of the nebulizer 100 in FIG. 5 whilethe diverter is actuated, according to another embodiment. According toone embodiment, the nebulizer 100 includes an additional air inlet valve1210. For example, a living being's physiological peak inhalation flowcan exceed the flow being delivered into the nebulizer 100 through thegas outlet orifice 820 (FIG. 8). Continuing the example, a living beingmay have a physiologically peak inhalation flow of 20 LPM, but in thisexample the nebulizer 100 is only receiving 8 LPM through thepressurized gas fitting 310. The additional air inlet valve 1210 canopen up enabling ambient air to enter the nebulizer 100, thus, enhancingthe aerosol performance.

Various embodiments have been illustrated with 8 LPM received from thepressurized gas fitting 310 and 20 LPM for the living being'sphysiological peak inhalation rate. However, these are only examples.Various embodiments are well suited to other levels.

According to one embodiment, the additional air inlet valve 1210 isconstructed to maintain a predetermined negative pressure in theinternal medication chamber 710 at various inhalation flow rates inorder to ensure, according to one embodiment, that even if theadditional air inlet valve 1210 opens, the diverter-actuator-deactuator720 can maintain the diverter seal 1010 with respect to the opening 730a at the top of the diverter 730.

As can be seen, the pressure in the internal medication chamber 710fluctuates in response to a living being's breathing through nebulizer100, where their breathing creates more pressure at one point in timeand less pressure at another point in time, their lack of breathing, theamount of pressurized gas supplied through the pressurized gas fitting310, the response and design of the additional air inlet valve 1210,among other things. According to one embodiment, the pressure within theinternal medication chamber 710 fluctuates in response to a livingbeing's breathing through the outlet 210. Further, according to oneembodiment, an amount of flow through the diverter orifice 810 bresponds to fluctuations of pressure within the internal medicationchamber 710.

According to one embodiment, a diverter override mechanism is providedfor overriding the pressurized gas diverter. For example, a living beingmay want to override the breath deactuated capabilities of the nebulizer100 to cause a nebulizer 100 to continuously create medical aerosolregardless of whether the living being is breathing through nebulizer100 or not.

FIG. 13A depicts a top view of a diverter override mechanism 1300,according to one embodiment. The diverter override mechanism 1300 can belocated at and incorporated into the nebulizer's cover 110, among otherthings. The diverter override mechanism 1300 can include a button 1310,for example. Optionally, the diverter override mechanism 1300 caninclude a rotatable flange 1320. The rotatable flange 1320 can includetabs 1340 to make it easier for a living being to grasp. The button 1310can be pushed to override the breath deactuated capabilities of thenebulizer causing the nebulizer to continuously create medical aerosolregardless of whether a living being is breathing into the nebulizer. Ifthe flange 1320 is rotated in one direction 1330 a, the button 1310cannot be pressed to override the breath deactuated capabilities. If theflange 1320 is rotated in the other direction 1330 b, the button 1310can be pressed to override the breath deactuated capabilities. Thedirections 1330 a, 1330 b can be reversed. Although the diverteroverride mechanism 1300 is illustrated using a button 1310, variousembodiments are well suited to other types of mechanisms for overridingthe breath actuated capabilities besides a button 1310, such as a lever,among other things.

FIG. 13B depicts a side cross section of the diverter override mechanism1300 when it is not in override mode, according to one embodiment. InFIG. 13B, the button 1310 is not pressed down. Therefore, there is a gap1350 between the diverter-actuator-deactuator 720 and the diverter 730'stop opening 730 a. Thus, the breath deactuated capabilities of thenebulizer are not overridden.

FIG. 13C depicts a side cross section of the diverter override mechanism1300 in override mode, according to one embodiment. In FIG. 13C, thebutton 1310 is pressed down. Therefore, the button 1310 is pushing thediverter-actuator-deactuator 720 so that it seals the diverter 730's topopening 730 a. Thus, the breath deactuated capabilities of the nebulizerare overridden. A living being pushing the button 1310 to override thebreath deactuated capabilities is also referred to as “operatorintervention.” Therefore, according to one embodiment, an amount of flowthrough the diverter orifice responds to an operator intervention.

According to one embodiment, a button 1310 as depicted in FIGS. 13A-13Ccan be used as a visual indication of whether the nebulizer 100 is indiversion mode or not in diversion mode. For example, the button 1310will be up when the opening 730 a is not sealed and will be down whenthe opening 730 a is sealed, thus, providing a visual indication ofwhether the nebulizer 100 is in diversion mode or not in diversion mode.The button 1310 is referred to herein as “a visual indicator.” Accordingto one embodiment, the button 1310 will move up and down by variousamounts in response to pressure fluctuations in the internal medicationchamber. Therefore, according to one embodiment, pressure fluctuationswithin the internal medication chamber can be visually indicated throughthe mechanical movement of a visual indicator.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart 1400 for a method of deactuating and actuating anebulizer in response to a living being's breathing through thenebulizer, according to one embodiment.

At 1410, the method begins.

At 1420, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, pressurized gas is received into apressurized gas diverter 730 at a diverter orifice 810 b from a gasoutlet orifice 820 associated with a nozzle assembly 750.

At 1440, when the opening 730 a is at least substantially sealed,medical aerosol is created. For example, medical aerosol is created bypermitting pressurized gas that entered the internal medication chamber710 by shearing across the surface of one or more liquid outlet orifices610 (FIG. 6B) to mix with medication located in the internal medicationchamber 710.

More specifically, refer to FIG. 11, during the initial inhalation, theliving being can overcome the flow being introduced into the nebulizer100 through the gas outlet orifice 820. For example, if an amount ofgas, such as 8 LPM of gas, is being introduced into the nebulizer 100through the pressurized gas fitting 310, the living being could inhalemore than that same amount of gas, which in this example is 8 LPM, tostart producing a negative gauge pressure in the internal medicationchamber 710. Once the living being's breathing has produced a negativegauge pressure in the internal medication chamber 710, thediverter-actuator-deactuator 720 can move down and seal the diverteropening 730 a creating a “diverter seal 1010.” The diverter seal 1010prohibits gas from exiting the diverter opening 730 a and preventsadditional gas from entering the diverter orifice 810 b from the nozzleassembly 750's gas outlet orifice 820. Therefore, gas is forced totravel in proximity of the liquid outlet orifices 610 (FIG. 6B) enablingpressurized gas to enter the internal medication chamber 710 and mixwith the medication resulting in medical aerosol. The medical aerosolcan then travel from the internal medication chamber 710 to the livingbeing through the outlet 210.

At 1450, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, when the opening 730 a is not atleast substantially sealed, medical aerosol is not created or isreduced. For example, the creation of medical aerosol is reduced orprevented by allowing the pressurized gas that entered the diverter 730to escape through the opening 730 a at the top 730 b of the diverter730. This may be due to the fact that the living being has not startedbreathing through nebulizer 100 or because the living being has stoppedbreathing through nebulizer 100 or because the living being has exhaledthrough nebulizer 100 or because the living being has reduced theirvolume of inhalation through nebulizer 100. In the event that the livingbeing stopped breathing through the nebulizer 100, once the livingbeing's inhalation rate is not greater than the flow exiting the gasoutlet orifice 820, which in this example is 8 LPM, the opening 730 a atthe top of the diverter 730 is unsealed and the creation of medicalaerosol stops or reduced. The term “reduced” is defined as reduced incomparison to when the diverter opening 730 a is sealed in response tothe breathing of the living being. According to one embodiment, aninsignificant amount of medical aerosol may be created when the opening730 a at the top of the diverter 730 is unsealed.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 9, the diverter 730 is deactuatedduring periods of non-inhalation due to the opening 730 a at the top 730b of the diverter 730 not being sealed, according to one embodiment. Forexample, pressurized gas can enter the nozzle assembly 750 through thepressurized gas fitting 310. The pressurized gas can travel up the innerchamber of the nozzle assembly 750 and out the gas outlet orifice 820located at the top of the nozzle assembly 750. A significant amount ofthe gas can then move into the pressurized gas diverter 730 through thediverter orifice 810 b and out the opening 730 a located at the top 730b of the diverter 730. A first portion of the gas that entered thediverter 730 can be vented out of the nebulizer 100 through variousopenings in the nebulizer 100 without exiting the chamber air outlet210. A second portion of the gas that entered the diverter 730 maytravel to the internal medication chamber 710, however, according tovarious embodiments, the second portion of gas does not come into closeenough proximity of the liquid outlet orifices 610 (FIG. 6B) to producemedical aerosol.

At 1460, the method ends.

As discussed herein, a living being's peak inhalation flow may exceedthe flow being delivered into the nebulizer through the gas outletorifice 820 (FIG. 8). Therefore, according to one embodiment, anadditional air inlet valve 1210 (FIG. 12) can be used to enable ambientair to enter the nebulizer to make up the difference between the livingbeing's peak inhalation flow and the flow being delivered through thegas outlet orifice 820 (FIG. 8).

Thus, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a breath actuated nebulizer 100 isprovided that includes an internal medication chamber 710 and apressurized gas diverter 730, according to one embodiment. The internalmedication chamber 710 is configured for holding a medication that iscapable of being converted into a medical aerosol. The pressurized gasdiverter 730 includes a diverter orifice 810 b. The pressurized gasdiverter 730 prevents or reduces creation of the medical aerosol whendeactuated in response to a lack of breathing and enables creation ofthe medical aerosol when actuated in response to breathing.

According to another embodiment, the breath actuated nebulizer 100(FIGS. 1 and 7) includes a housing 120 (FIG. 1), a chamber air outlet210 (FIG. 7), one or more liquid outlet orifices 610 (FIG. 6B), a gasoutlet orifice 820 (FIG. 8) and a pressurized gas diverter 730. Thehousing 120 (FIG. 1) has an internal medication chamber 710 (FIG. 7)configured for holding a medication that is capable of being convertedinto a medical aerosol. The chamber air outlet 210 (FIG. 7) is coupledwith the internal medication chamber 710 (FIG. 7) for transferring themedical aerosol to a living being. The one or more liquid outletorifices 610 (FIG. 6B) are configured for permitting pressurized gas tomix with the medication. The gas outlet orifice 820 (FIG. 8) isconfigured for permitting pressurized gas to shear across the surface ofthe one or more liquid outlet orifices 610 (FIG. 6B). The gas outletorifice 820 (FIG. 8) is adjacent to the one or more liquid outletorifices 610 (FIG. 6B), according to one embodiment. The pressurized gasdiverter 730 (FIG. 7) contains a diverter orifice 810 b (FIG. 8)configured for preventing the pressurized gas from shearing across thesurface of the one or more liquid outlet orifices 610 (FIG. 6B) when anopening 730 a (FIG. 7) in the pressurized gas diverter 730 (FIG. 7) isnot at least substantially sealed.

Examples of the subject matter are thus described. Although the subjectmatter has been described in a language specific to structural featuresand/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subjectmatter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to thespecific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific featuresand acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementingthe claims.

Various embodiments have been described in various combinations.However, any two or more embodiments may be combined. Further, anyembodiment may be used separately from any other embodiment. Features,structures, or characteristics of any embodiment may be combined in anysuitable manner with one or more other features, structures, orcharacteristics.

What is claimed is:
 1. A nebulizer comprising: an internal medicationchamber configured for holding a medication; a pressurized gas divertercomprising a top, a bottom, a wall encompassing an inner chamber, adiverter orifice located at the bottom of the pressurized gas diverter,a diverter opening opposite the diverter orifice and located at the topof the pressurized gas diverter; and a diverter-actuator-deactuator thatactuates the pressurized gas diverter by substantially sealing thediverter opening, and deactuates the pressurized gas diverter byunsealing the diverter opening, wherein the opening is configured todivert a pressurized gas from shearing across a surface of a liquidoutlet orifice when the diverter opening is at least partially unsealed.2. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising a diverter overridemechanism configured to permit creation of medical aerosol when engaged.3. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator thatmechanically moves in response to pressure fluctuations within theinternal medication chamber.
 4. The nebulizer of claim 1, furthercomprising a gas outlet orifice in proximity of the diverter orifice,wherein a gas flow from the gas outlet orifice is substantially receivedthrough the diverter orifice when the pressurized gas diverter isdeactuated and wherein the gas flow received through the diverterorifice is substantially less when the pressurized gas diverter isactuated.
 5. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein thediverter-actuator-deactuator actuates the pressurized gas diverter inresponse to inhalation and deactuates the pressurized gas diverter inresponse to lack of inhalation.
 6. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein thediverter-actuator-deactuator comprises a flexible material in a bowlshape.
 7. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein thediverter-actuator-deactuator stretches to substantially seal saiddiverter opening.
 8. The nebulizer of claim 5, wherein thediverter-actuator-deactuator has an original shape in response to thelack of inhalation.
 9. The nebulizer of claim 5, wherein thediverter-actuator-deactuator has a piston construction thatsubstantially seals the diverter opening in response to the inhalationand unseals the diverter opening in response to the lack of inhalation.10. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the pressurized gas diverterenables creation of a medical aerosol from the medication when actuatedin response to inhalation.
 11. The nebulizer of claim 10, wherein thepressurized gas diverter reduces production of the medical aerosol whendeactuated in response to a lack of breathing, exhalation, or reducedinhalation.
 12. The nebulizer of claim 11, wherein the pressurized gasdiverter prevents production of the medical aerosol when responsivelydeactuated.
 13. A nebulizer, comprising: a housing having an internalmedication chamber; a chamber air outlet coupled with the internalmedication chamber; a liquid outlet orifice configured to permit apressurized gas to mix with a medication; a gas outlet orifice adjacentthe liquid outlet orifice and configured to permit the pressurized gasto shear across a surface of the liquid outlet orifice; and apressurized gas diverter comprising a top, a bottom, a wall encompassingan inner chamber, a diverter orifice located at the bottom of thepressurized gas diverter, a diverter opening opposite the diverterorifice and located at the top of the pressurized gas diverter; adiverter-actuator-deactuator that actuates the pressurized gas diverterby substantially sealing the diverter opening, and deactuates thepressurized gas diverter by unsealing the diverter opening, wherein theopening is configured to divert the pressurized gas from shearing acrossthe surface of the liquid outlet orifice when the diverter opening is atleast partially unsealed; wherein a gap between the gas outlet orificeand the diverter orifice remains substantially same when the pressurizedgas shears across the surface of the liquid outlet orifice.
 14. Thenebulizer of claim 13, wherein an amount of flow through the diverterorifice responds to fluctuations of pressure within the internalmedication chamber.
 15. The nebulizer of claim 13, wherein an amount offlow through the diverter orifice responds to an operator intervention.16. The nebulizer of claim 13, wherein pressure fluctuations within theinternal medication chamber are visually indicated through mechanicalmovement of a visual indicator.
 17. The nebulizer of claim 13, whereinpressure within the internal medication chamber fluctuates in responseto a living being's breathing through an outlet of the nebulizer.
 18. Anebulizer, comprising: a housing having an internal medication chamber;a chamber air outlet coupled with the internal medication chamber; aliquid outlet orifice configured to permit a pressurized gas to mix witha medication; a gas outlet orifice adjacent the liquid outlet orificeand configured to permit the pressurized gas to shear across a surfaceof the liquid outlet orifice; a pressurized gas diverter comprising atop, a bottom, a wall encompassing an inner chamber, a diverter orificelocated at the bottom of the pressurized gas diverter, a diverteropening opposite the diverter orifice and located at the top of thepressurized gas diverter; a diverter-actuator-deactuator that actuatesthe pressurized gas diverter by substantially sealing the diverteropening, and deactuates the pressurized gas diverter by unsealing thediverter opening, wherein the opening is configured to divert thepressurized gas from shearing across the surface of the liquid outletorifice when the diverter opening is at least partially unsealed; and apressurized gas diverter override mechanism configured to permitcreation of medical aerosol when engaged; wherein a gap between the gasoutlet orifice and the diverter orifice remains substantially same whenthe pressurized gas shears across the surface of the liquid outletorifice.
 19. The nebulizer of claim 18, further comprising a wherein thediverter-actuator-deactuator is configured to actuate the pressurizedgas diverter in response to inhalation and deactuate the pressurized gasdiverter in response to lack of inhalation.
 20. The nebulizer of claim18, wherein the diverter-actuator-deactuator comprises a flexiblematerial in a bowl shape.